Topical application of the antihistaminics has been practiced rather extensively during the past few years, especially when incorporated in ointment bases and as iontophoretic agents, as shown by Aaron, Peck, and Abramson.1 The effectiveness of antihistaminics in ointment bases is certainly questioned on the basis of the work done by Perry.2 It was our opinion that from a dermatological viewpoint such drugs, if effective, would be more satisfactorily used in a simple alcoholic lotion.
An effective treatment of miliaria has been a constant problem for the members of the armed forces serving in tropical countries, and though there are many paliative preparations in use, nothing has been found to be truly satisfactory. An example of a standard preparation for treatment of miliaria is salicylic acid 3%, glycerine 4%, phenol 1%, menthol .25%, and alcohol 95%. To this basic preparation three antihistaminics were added in turn: (1) diphenhydramine (benadryl,®